The British Medical Association (BMA) Cymru Wales has launched an all-Wales petition, calling on the British government to give powers to the National Assembly for Wales to ban smoking in public places.

The BMA has placed copies of the petition in doctors surgeries and hospitals across Wales.

Dr Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the BMA, said: “It is imperative that Wales has the power to ban smoking in public places – if that is the wish of the Assembly – as soon as possible.”